By Anthony Whealy, originally published in the Guardian 7th October 2019 The revelation that 13 companies failed to declare sizeable donations to the major political parties when seeking approval to develop property in New South Wales throws up very serious concerns. Since 2008, NSW law has required the public disclosure of donations or gifts when… Read More

RN Breakfast 24th September – interview link here The political donation scandals which have tainted both major parties have refocussed attention on the way that money can buy undue influence in Australian politics. A group of former senior judges and anti-corruption experts have drawn up a blueprint to try to restore public trust, both in… Read More

By Mike Seccombe, originally published in The Saturday Paper 7th September 2019. It’s been a wild fortnight at the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). A hundred thousand dollars in an Aldi shopping bag, personally delivered to NSW Labor Party headquarters by a property developer who is now banned from Australia on ASIO… Read More

Opinion piece by Neil Chenoweth originally published in the Australian Financial Review 7th September 2019. The disconcerting feature of NSW’s remade anti-corruption body, as it tackles its first major donations scandal, is its determined lack of curiosity. There’s been no shortage of salacious detail in the past two weeks as the Independent Commission Against Corruption… Read More

Originally broadcast on 7.30 Report 2nd September 2019 GEOFFREY WATSON, BARRISTER: The issues at stake here go way outside the borders of New South Wales. This is an Australia-wide question. PAUL FARRELL, REPORTER: In March 2015 New South Wales Labor was hosting a dinner for supporters in the Chinese community. KATE MCCLYMONT, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD… Read More

Interview with Geoffrey Watson SC on The World Today, ABC Radio 2nd September 2019. Shopping bags full of money, claims of foreign influence and the downfall of a once rising Labor star; the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard some sensational and worrying revelations in its recent hearings into the activities of… Read More

By Geoffrey Watson, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on September 1, 2019 The current Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry is of critical importance – and for two quite separate reasons. ICAC is exposing continuing problems with election funding in NSW. The public inquiry is still in its early days, and it is not… Read More

By Anthony Whealy, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 29th September 2019 The prosecution of witness K, a former intelligence agent, and his lawyer Bernard Collaery has raised considerable outrage. At issue is the right of the public to be given details of wrongful and shameful behaviour by the Australian government. In this… Read More

The following statement from Attorney-General Christian Porter (The Age, 2/8) in relation to his proposed model for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission raises more questions than it answers. Porter claims that: “The reason why this legislation cannot be rushed should be obvious … given the many examples of injustices and damage done to personal and professional reputations… Read More